Mind Behind The Crime | The Psychology Of Killers

In this deeply unsettling analysis, we examine two of the most revealing pieces of footage from the Gilgo Beach case: Asa Ellerup's tour of the rooms she was forbidden to enter for 27 years, and her emotional responses during a jail call with accused serial killer Rex Heuermann. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down the psychological contradictions, trauma-bond patterns, and body-language “tells” that expose the control dynamics inside this marriage. First, we explore Asa's walkthrough of the house: a gun room behind a steel door, a locked space under the stairs she'd never seen, and the basement investigators believe may be tied to multiple murders. Even as she demonstrates the locks, she insists “nothing was off limits.” Scott explains this as classic “doublethink,” a defense mechanism where two opposing truths are held to avoid cognitive collapse. From her closed eyes during stressful moments to her insistence that investigators are “picking, picking, picking,” every movement reveals emotional conflict. Then we shift to the jail phone call. Rex casually discusses dinner while facing seven murder charges. He never proclaims innocence — a strategic silence, Scott notes — while Asa brightens just hearing his voice despite her visible physical decline. Their divorce, she argues, was “strategic,” yet the emotional attachment remains intact. We analyze Victoria Heuermann's shifting language, normalized violence in the home, and why certain family members break free while others remain psychologically tethered. This episode digs into denial, coercive control, compartmentalization, and how predators create environments where locked rooms — literal and emotional — become part of everyday life. For anyone wanting to understand the psychological machinery behind serial offenders and their families, this is essential viewing. #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #GilgoBeachMurders #SerialKillerPsychology #TraumaBonding #BodyLanguageAnalysis #TrueCrimeCommunity #HiddenKillers #LockedRooms #LongIslandSerialKiller Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this 2025 Year-in-Review Hidden Killers special, we examine one of the most explosive family implosions in any modern true-crime case: the unraveling alliance between Donna Adelson and her daughter Wendi, and why that break may define the future of the Dan Markel murder trial. This combined episode covers two of the biggest developments of the year. First: the seismic moment when Wendi Adelson refused to testify for her mother. Donna's defense team attempted a high-risk maneuver by subpoenaing her to the stand — but Wendi fought back, and the judge quashed it. Her refusal is more than a legal decision; it marks a profound fracture in a family once united by control, privilege, and secrecy. While Charlie Adelson — already convicted — remains fiercely loyal to his mother, Wendi has stepped away, choosing her own survival over Donna's defense. Then there's Donna herself. Unlike most defendants facing overwhelming evidence and three prior co-conspirator convictions, Donna insists she will testify. Against the strong advice of her attorneys, she believes she can charm, persuade, or out-talk the jury. But is that confidence grounded in strategy — or in denial, ego, and the need to maintain control at all costs? Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott and defense attorney Bob Motta join Tony Brueski to analyze what these decisions reveal psychologically: • Why Wendi's silence may be the loudest message of the entire trial. • Why Charlie's loyalty may be more about identity than innocence. • How Donna's need for dominance could lead her to self-destruct on the stand. • And what this intergenerational collapse means for the Markel children, now old enough to understand the tragedy woven into their family name. This is not just a trial update — it's the psychological autopsy of a family once built on unity and now shattered in the public eye. Loyalty, silence, betrayal, survival — all playing out in real time. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #MurderTrial #FamilyPsychology #BobMotta #ShavaunScott #CourtroomDrama Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

How does a man live under the same roof as his wife and children while allegedly carrying out seven brutal murders over nearly three decades? In this powerful two-part breakdown, we bring together two of the nation's leading experts on human behavior—former FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott—to explain how Rex Heuermann may have maintained one of the most disturbing double lives in modern true crime. Robin Dreeke opens the episode with a deep dive into the psychology of compartmentalization, truth-default theory, and why spouses detect lies only about 50% of the time. He explains how Heuermann allegedly created a split existence: family man in Massapequa Park, predator operating in secrecy when his wife and children were out of town. Burner phones, controlled finances, rigid routines—each played into the illusion of normalcy. Dreeke draws critical parallels to notorious cases like BTK, revealing the subtle relationship red flags that can be missed even by those closest to the perpetrator. Then psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins to analyze the chilling emotional dynamic captured in the Peacock documentary. Asa Ellerup's unwavering loyalty—even calling Rex her “hero”—opens a window into trauma bonding, coercive control, and the psychological grooming that can turn a spouse into an unknowing enabler. From Asa's isolation to tightly restricted access to finances and technology, Scott exposes the mechanisms that may have kept her locked inside Heuermann's constructed reality. Together, these insights reveal not just how a predator allegedly concealed his crimes, but how ordinary families can be pulled into extraordinary darkness without ever recognizing the danger. For anyone concerned about relationship safety, manipulation, or hidden abuse, this episode offers crucial perspective—and a sobering look at the human cost behind one of America's most haunting serial killer cases. #RexHeuermann #SerialKillerPsychology #GilgoBeachMurders #AsaEllerup #RobinDreeke #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimeAnalysis #DoubleLife #TraumaBonding #HiddenKillersPodcast Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Three days before Sheriff Mickey Stines allegedly walked into Judge Kevin Mullins' chambers and shot him nine times, an attorney contacted the Kentucky Bar Association asking what he could do to intervene. He had already warned Mullins directly. Told him Stines was losing it. The local police chief saw enough to say Stines had lost his mind. Staff inside the sheriff's office watched their boss place phone calls to relatives who had been dead for years. His friends took him to a doctor. The doctor diagnosed acute stress reaction and sent him home. Twenty-four hours later, Kevin Mullins was dead. Court documents reveal the warning signs were everywhere. Witnesses say Stines had not slept in days. He had lost a massive amount of weight. He was convinced unnamed people were going to kill his wife and daughter. He woke his wife at night to whisper because he believed their home was bugged. Coworkers saw it. An attorney saw it. The police chief saw it. Nobody had the power to stop it. Kentucky has no red flag law. Involuntary commitment requires proof of imminent danger, not paranoid delusions, not rapid weight loss, not bizarre behavior. And when the person in crisis is an elected sheriff, no one has the authority to suspend him, disarm him, or override his denials. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what these behaviors actually mean clinically, what paranoid psychosis looks like, why people miss or dismiss the signs, and whether Stines' insanity defense might hold up in court. The widow's civil lawsuit now asks whether three sheriff's office employees should be held liable for failing to warn Mullins. Their defense: Kentucky law imposed no duty to warn or protect. Everyone did something. It was not enough. #MickeyStines #JudgeKevinMullins #TrueCrime #KentuckySheriff #CourthouseShooting #MentalHealthCrisis #InsanityDefense #WarningSigns #Psychosis #ShavaunScott #RedFlagLaws #TrueCrimeNews #SystemicFailure #LetcherCounty #KentuckyCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #CriminalJustice #CourtroomDrama #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Rob and Michele Reiner spent nearly two decades trying to save their son. Seventeen rehab stays. Constant supervision. A guest house on their property so they could keep him close and try to manage the chaos. Every possible resource love, money, access, and opportunity could provide. And still, on December 15, 2025, they were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Their son, Nick Reiner, now faces charges in their killings. This is not a story about parents who missed the warning signs. It's about parents who lived with those signs for eighteen years and had no legal way to act on them. In this in-depth conversation, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examines what was likely unfolding inside the Reiner family long before that final night. She breaks down why Nick Reiner's own words — that drugs were never about getting high but about “killing the noise” — point to deeper psychological distress that traditional rehab often fails to address. We explore what happens to parents psychologically when they've exhausted every option yet remain trapped in proximity to a volatile adult child, and why wealth and access offered no real protection. The discussion then widens to a second chilling case: the Mickey Stines tragedy in Kentucky, where a sheriff fatally shot a judge inside his own courthouse after weeks of visible psychological unraveling. Witnesses described paranoia, severe sleep deprivation, rapid weight loss, delusional beliefs, and an alarming phone call to a deceased relative on the day of the incident. Coworkers saw it. Friends saw it. Authorities saw it. And still, no intervention stopped what followed. Together, these cases expose a painful reality: in the United States, families and communities often recognize danger long before the law allows action. Competent adults cannot be forced into treatment. Intervention requires “imminent danger,” a threshold that frequently isn't crossed until lives are already lost. This conversation isn't about excusing violence or assigning blame. It's about confronting the limits of love, the failures baked into mental-health and commitment laws, and the impossible position families are placed in when respecting autonomy means risking their own safety. If you've ever wondered how people can do everything right and still end up here, this episode offers uncomfortable — but necessary — answers. #ReinerMurders #NickReiner #MickeyStines #JudgeKevinMullins #TrueCrime #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemicFailure #CrimePsychology #FamilyViolence #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Rob and Michele Reiner spent nearly two decades trying to save their son. Seventeen rehab stays. Constant supervision. A guest house on their property so they could keep him close and try to manage the chaos. Every possible resource love, money, access, and opportunity could provide. And still, on December 15, 2025, they were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Their son, Nick Reiner, now faces charges in their killings. This is not a story about parents who missed the warning signs. It's about parents who lived with those signs for eighteen years and had no legal way to act on them. In this in-depth conversation, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examines what was likely unfolding inside the Reiner family long before that final night. She breaks down why Nick Reiner's own words — that drugs were never about getting high but about “killing the noise” — point to deeper psychological distress that traditional rehab often fails to address. We explore what happens to parents psychologically when they've exhausted every option yet remain trapped in proximity to a volatile adult child, and why wealth and access offered no real protection. The discussion then widens to a second chilling case: the Mickey Stines tragedy in Kentucky, where a sheriff fatally shot a judge inside his own courthouse after weeks of visible psychological unraveling. Witnesses described paranoia, severe sleep deprivation, rapid weight loss, delusional beliefs, and an alarming phone call to a deceased relative on the day of the incident. Coworkers saw it. Friends saw it. Authorities saw it. And still, no intervention stopped what followed. Together, these cases expose a painful reality: in the United States, families and communities often recognize danger long before the law allows action. Competent adults cannot be forced into treatment. Intervention requires “imminent danger,” a threshold that frequently isn't crossed until lives are already lost. This conversation isn't about excusing violence or assigning blame. It's about confronting the limits of love, the failures baked into mental-health and commitment laws, and the impossible position families are placed in when respecting autonomy means risking their own safety. If you've ever wondered how people can do everything right and still end up here, this episode offers uncomfortable — but necessary — answers. #ReinerMurders #NickReiner #MickeyStines #JudgeKevinMullins #TrueCrime #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemicFailure #CrimePsychology #FamilyViolence #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

A Kentucky sheriff shot and killed a judge inside his own courthouse chambers — and according to court documents, the warning signs were everywhere. Witnesses say Mickey Stines hadn't slept in days. He'd lost a massive amount of weight. He was convinced unnamed people were going to kill his wife and daughter. He woke his wife up at night to whisper because he believed their home was bugged. And on the day of the shooting, he reportedly tried calling his grandmother — who had been dead for three years. Coworkers saw it. An attorney saw it.  The local police chief said "that son of a bitch has lost his mind." His friends even took him to the doctor the day before. And still, nobody stopped what was coming. In this segment, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down what these behaviors actually mean clinically — what paranoid psychosis looks like, why people miss or dismiss the warning signs, and what Stines' insanity defense might actually hold up to. We're not here to excuse what happened. We're here to understand it. Because this case is a brutal lesson in what happens when someone falls apart in plain sight and no one knows what to do about it. #MickeyStines #JudgeKevinMullins #TrueCrime #KentuckySheriff #CourthouseShooting #MentalHealthCrisis #InsanityDefense #WarningSigns #Psychosis #ShavaunScott Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Here's what no one wants to say out loud: Rob and Michele Reiner probably knew they were in danger. Friends say Michele had been confiding for months that Nick's mental health was deteriorating. Neighbors say there had been violent incidents before. The night before their deaths, Nick got into a screaming argument with his father at a Christmas party. Everyone saw the signs. No one could legally do anything about it. In the United States, you cannot force a competent adult into treatment. You cannot commit someone because you believe they're dangerous. You have to wait until the danger becomes imminent — which usually means you have to wait until someone gets hurt. Rob and Michele Reiner lived inside that impossible gap for eighteen years. And then the gap killed them. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to examine the systemic failures that leave families like the Reiners without options. We discuss what parents can actually do legally when an adult child is spiraling — and where their authority ends. We look at why the threshold for involuntary commitment is so high that families often recognize danger years before the law will act. We ask hard questions about whether the rehab industry itself can make certain patients worse. And we talk honestly about what would need to change for cases like this to have different outcomes. This isn't about assigning blame to a grieving family. It's about understanding why our system forces parents to choose between respecting autonomy and protecting themselves — and why that choice shouldn't exist. #RobReiner #MentalHealthLaw #TrueCrime #SystemicFailure #InvoluntaryCommitment #FamilyViolence #ShavaunScott #MentalHealthReform #AddictionCrisis #CrimePsychology Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Rob and Michele Reiner spent eighteen years trying to save their son. Seventeen rehab facilities. A feature film about his addiction. A guest house on their property so they could watch over him. And still, on December 15th, 2025, they were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Nick Reiner, 32, has been charged with their murders. This isn't a case about parents who didn't see it coming. It's about parents who saw it coming for nearly two decades and couldn't stop it. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott has spent thirty years working with families in crisis, perpetrators of violence, and people trapped in cycles of addiction and mental illness. She's the author of "Nightbird" and "The Minds of Mass Killers," and in this interview, she breaks down what was likely happening inside the Reiner family long before that final night. We discuss why Nick's own words — that his drug use was never about the drugs, but about "killing the noise" — reveal something critical about what treatment was missing. We examine what happens to parents psychologically when they've exhausted every resource and still live in proximity to a volatile adult child. We look at why wealth and access to the best facilities offered essentially no protection. And we explore the warning signs that families often see but can't bring themselves to act on — because acting means treating your own child as a threat. If you've ever wondered how a family can do everything right and still end up here, this conversation offers uncomfortable answers. The Reiners aren't a cautionary tale about neglect. They're a cautionary tale about the limits of love when you're up against something love can't fix. #RobReiner #NickReiner #TrueCrime #FamilyViolence #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthCrisis #ShavaunScott #Parricide #CrimePsychology #HollywoodTragedy Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

This episode of Hidden Killers brings together three troubling, psychologically revealing stories — each offering a unique window into manipulation, identity, and the way families and offenders construct narratives to protect themselves. We begin with Bryan Kohberger's reported self-harm threats inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution. He's allegedly telling staff he'll “harm himself” if they don't move him out of J-Block — a threat strategically worded, attached to conditions, and deployed after earlier complaints didn't get traction. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down the psychology behind conditional threats, escalation patterns, and why institutions must take every claim seriously even when manipulation is suspected. From there, we move into Kohberger's serial-killer outreach — his attempts to connect with high-profile offenders rather than family or supporters. Shavaun helps us understand what this reveals about identity, belonging, status, and the collapse of the image he expected to maintain inside prison. When inmates respond with contempt instead of fascination, the psychological fallout can be profound. Finally, we shift to the Anna Kepner cruise-ship case, where conflicting accounts from adults and teens highlight the distance between family myth and emotional reality. Parents describe harmony; teens describe aggression. Shavaun walks us through why teenagers often perceive danger more clearly than adults, how aggression becomes normalized, and why blended families are especially vulnerable to maintaining a narrative that doesn't match the truth. Across all three segments, one theme emerges: when reality doesn't match the story someone needs to believe, the mind works overtime to bridge the gap — sometimes through manipulation, sometimes through denial, and sometimes through sheer grandiosity. #HiddenKillers #BryanKohberger #AnnaKepner #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #PrisonPsychology #FamilyDynamics #SerialOffenders #TonyBrueski #CriminalMindset Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The Brian Walshe case isn't just about timelines, evidence dumps, and surveillance clips — it's about a mindset. A pattern. A psychological profile that becomes harder to ignore the deeper you look. Today, we're combining the trial's most explosive Day 4 revelations with a full behavioral breakdown from psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, who helps us decode what investigators say they're seeing in real time. In court, jurors learned that Brian Walshe allegedly searched “Ana Walshe found dead” on Christmas Day 2022 — a full week before his defense claims Ana died suddenly and unexpectedly in their bed. Prosecutors also introduced testimony from Ana's boyfriend, William Fastow, who revealed a relationship built on plans, long-term goals, and a future without Brian. Surveillance footage and cell-tower data added even more pressure, placing Brian near dumpsters across multiple apartment complexes in the days after Ana vanished. But the evidence only tells half the story. Shavaun Scott walks us through the psychology underneath it all: the shifting stories, the image-management, the sudden claims that “no one would believe” the truth, and the digital trail investigators say points to preoccupation — not panic. She explains why certain explanations fit a familiar behavioral pattern, and how someone can publicly perform calm normalcy while privately unraveling. This episode connects the emotional framework, the alleged deception, and the forensic timeline into one picture: not speculation, but applied psychological analysis paired with courtroom testimony. If you're trying to understand the gap between what's being said and what's being shown, this conversation lays it out plainly.

This episode of Hidden Killers brings together three troubling, psychologically revealing stories — each offering a unique window into manipulation, identity, and the way families and offenders construct narratives to protect themselves. We begin with Bryan Kohberger's reported self-harm threats inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution. He's allegedly telling staff he'll “harm himself” if they don't move him out of J-Block — a threat strategically worded, attached to conditions, and deployed after earlier complaints didn't get traction. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down the psychology behind conditional threats, escalation patterns, and why institutions must take every claim seriously even when manipulation is suspected. From there, we move into Kohberger's serial-killer outreach — his attempts to connect with high-profile offenders rather than family or supporters. Shavaun helps us understand what this reveals about identity, belonging, status, and the collapse of the image he expected to maintain inside prison. When inmates respond with contempt instead of fascination, the psychological fallout can be profound. Finally, we shift to the Anna Kepner cruise-ship case, where conflicting accounts from adults and teens highlight the distance between family myth and emotional reality. Parents describe harmony; teens describe aggression. Shavaun walks us through why teenagers often perceive danger more clearly than adults, how aggression becomes normalized, and why blended families are especially vulnerable to maintaining a narrative that doesn't match the truth. Across all three segments, one theme emerges: when reality doesn't match the story someone needs to believe, the mind works overtime to bridge the gap — sometimes through manipulation, sometimes through denial, and sometimes through sheer grandiosity. #HiddenKillers #BryanKohberger #AnnaKepner #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #PrisonPsychology #FamilyDynamics #SerialOffenders #TonyBrueski #CriminalMindset Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a cruise ship has left behind a trail of conflicting stories — and at the center of it is a blended family dynamic that now looks very different depending on who's doing the talking. Parents and grandparents describe harmony, closeness, and three teenagers who were “the three amigos.” Yet teens who actually lived inside that home describe something else entirely: aggression, chokeholds, tension, and behavior reframed by adults as “just playing.” On today's episode of Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what these contradictions reveal about denial, family image-management, and the difference between outside perception and lived experience. Shavaun explains why teens often have a more accurate read on the emotional temperature of a home than parents do — especially in blended families where adults may be overly invested in a narrative of unity. She walks us through the psychology of minimizing aggression, why “roughhousing” becomes the excuse of choice, and the gender dynamics that shape which behaviors get dismissed and which get flagged. We also look at why an outsider — in this case, Anna's ex-boyfriend — might actually provide a more reliable account than adults with emotional or reputational skin in the game. And how cabin assignments made by a travel agent, not the kids themselves, may speak volumes about parental blind spots. This segment is a deep dive into credibility, emotional truth, and the patterns families cling to long after red flags have been waving in plain sight. #AnnaKepner #HiddenKillers #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #FamilyDynamics #BlendedFamilies #CruiseShipCase #TonyBrueski #PsychologicalInsight #TeenPerspective Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Bryan Kohberger is reportedly telling prison staff he'll “harm himself” if they don't move him out of J-Block — and the wording of that threat is raising eyebrows. Not “end his life.” Not “I'm in crisis.” The phrase is specific, conditional, and attached to a demand. And in corrections psychology, that distinction matters. Today on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what this behavior actually signals. Is Kohberger genuinely overwhelmed inside Idaho's most restrictive housing unit? Or is this a strategic form of pressure meant to regain a sense of control he no longer has? From Day 2, Kohberger began testing the system — complaining about food, noise, harassment, and ultimately escalating to self-harm threats when lower-level grievances didn't get traction. Shavaun explains what this escalation pattern typically indicates: a person accustomed to getting results through pressure, resistance, or emotional leverage. But even with concerns about manipulation, prison staff are doing exactly what protocol requires — removing ligature risks, tightening supervision, documenting behavior. Shavaun walks us through why institutions must treat every threat seriously, even when the individual making it has a history of calculated behavior. We also explore the psychological payoff of using self-harm threats as leverage. Even if he doesn't get transferred, Kohberger may still gain exactly what he wants: attention, disruption, and power over the environment. For someone who built an identity around control, that's currency. This conversation offers a rare look into the psychological realities behind bars — and why a threat doesn't always mean what it appears to mean on the surface. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #PrisonPsychology #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #TonyBrueski #JBlock #PrisonBehavior #CriminalMindset #ControlTactics Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

While threatening self-harm, Bryan Kohberger is reportedly reaching out to serial offenders across the country — trying to build relationships with the very people he once studied academically. It's a pattern that has stunned investigators and raised deeper questions about identity, belonging, and psychological validation. Today on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us untangle what this behavior reveals. Why would someone convicted of killing four college students seek connection not with family, supporters, or advocates — but with other violent offenders? What does that choice of outreach tell us about how he sees himself and the world around him? Sources say Kohberger views himself as “above” the general prison population. He expected notoriety, maybe even dark fascination, when he entered the system. Instead, he got contempt — rejection from inmates who taunt him, mock him, and refuse to engage. For someone craving recognition, rejection can feel like psychological collapse. So why turn to serial offenders? Shavaun explores whether this is about validation, identity fusion, or the need to belong to a group he believes mirrors his own self-image. She also explains the recognizable profile of individuals who study violent offenders not to prevent harm — but because they identify with them emotionally or intellectually. Kohberger's behavior is happening in tandem with his escalating demands and self-harm threats. These aren't random, disconnected acts, Shavaun says — they're part of a larger pattern: a man whose sense of identity relies heavily on external reinforcement. And inside prison, he's not getting the reaction he believed he deserved. We also discuss why he clings so tightly to the “why” behind his crime — the one thing prosecutors never demanded and the one thing he refuses to give up. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #SerialOffenders #ShavaunScott #PrisonPsychology #TonyBrueski #CriminalIdentity #StatusDynamics #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PsychologicalProfiling Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Jurors aren't just weighing evidence in the Brian Walshe case — they're weighing behavior. They're deciding which version of events feels psychologically possible, which narrative aligns with human behavior, and which actions simply don't match the story being told. Today, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us understand the psychological patterns prosecutors are highlighting. We explore why certain types of deception — calculated lies, rehearsed narratives, contradictory explanations — point to deeper issues than simple panic or misunderstanding. Shavaun walks us through the mechanics of deceit: how people maintain double lives, how they separate public persona from private behavior, and what happens internally when the truth starts closing in. We look at the early-morning searches revealed in court and discuss what they suggest about planning, awareness, and emotional state. We also examine the defense's theory that Ana died suddenly and Brian responded in fear rather than violence. Shavaun explains what a real shock response looks like, how grief manifests, and why certain behaviors line up more with self-protection than panic. Then we broaden the view: the warning signs in troubled relationships, the risk spike when someone prepares to leave, the emotional danger of perceived betrayal, and what it means when financial motive intersects with escalating conflict. These are the patterns professionals see every day in cases that end in violence. Shavaun's perspective gives viewers the tools to understand not only this case, but the psychology behind deception itself — and why credibility is often the real battleground inside the courtroom. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalsheTrial #PsychologyExplained #TrueCrimeInsights #ShavaunScott #CrimeBehavior #CourtroomCoverage #AnaWalshe #ManipulationTactics #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Some cases are about evidence. Others are about timelines. The Brian Walshe case is about psychology — about behavior that doesn't match the story being told. Today, we bring in psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down that gap and explain what the patterns reveal. We look at the alleged deception: the shifting narratives, the claims about Ana leaving for a spontaneous work trip, the hesitation to report her missing, the sudden insistence that “no one would believe” the truth. Shavaun walks us through why these types of explanations fit a known psychological profile — one where control, image management, and self-preservation override all else. Then we tackle the digital footprint prosecutors laid out: the early-morning searches, the questions about legal consequences, and the behavior that investigators say unfolded before anyone even realized Ana was missing. From a clinical perspective, Shavaun explains what this kind of preoccupation suggests about intent and mindset. We also dig into the deeper emotional framework: jealousy, perceived betrayal, financial desperation, and what happens when a relationship is crumbling under the weight of lies. Shavaun talks about how someone can publicly perform normalcy — even affection — while privately preparing for loss of control. For anyone trying to understand how deception works, how manipulators construct believable narratives, and how victims often sense danger before anyone else does, this conversation is essential. This isn't speculation — it's behavioral psychology applied to one of the most unsettling cases in recent memory. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalshe #ManipulationPsychology #TrueCrimeAnalysis #ShavaunScott #CrimeMindset #CourtroomBreakdown #AnaWalshe #DeceptiveBehavior #TrueCrimeChannel Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The Brian Walshe case is one of those situations where the behavior speaks louder than the words. And when the behavior is stacked next to the timeline, the digital searches, and the ever-shifting narratives, the discrepancy becomes the whole story. In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what the psychology reveals — not in theory, but in the real patterns prosecutors say Brian Walshe followed. We're looking at the contrast between everyday lies and the kind of calculated misdirection that reshapes reality for everyone around it. Shavaun brings decades of clinical experience to explain why certain behavioral choices — from early-morning Google searches to inconsistent statements to elaborate cover stories — raise red flags that aren't just “suspicious” but psychologically telling. We analyze how serial deceivers rationalize their actions, why they believe they can outrun the truth, and how they maintain “normalcy” while living a double life. We also unpack the defense's version of events: the claim that Ana Walshe suddenly passed away, that Brian panicked, and that the dismemberment and disposal were responses to shock. Shavaun walks us through what genuine shock looks like, what guilt looks like, and how investigators typically spot the difference. Then we widen the lens: what the psychology says about leaving dangerous relationships, why the time when a partner prepares to leave can be the most volatile, and how betrayal, financial stress, and loss of control can escalate risk in ways friends and family often overlook. If you've ever wondered how trained professionals evaluate credibility, deception, and emotional performance in cases like this, this is the breakdown you need. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalsheCase #DeceptionPsychology #TrueCrimeInsights #ShavaunScott #CrimeBreakdown #CourtAnalysis #AnaWalshe #TrueCrimeDaily #PsychologyUnmasked Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Jurors aren't just weighing evidence in the Brian Walshe case — they're weighing behavior. They're deciding which version of events feels psychologically possible, which narrative aligns with human behavior, and which actions simply don't match the story being told. Today, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us understand the psychological patterns prosecutors are highlighting. We explore why certain types of deception — calculated lies, rehearsed narratives, contradictory explanations — point to deeper issues than simple panic or misunderstanding. Shavaun walks us through the mechanics of deceit: how people maintain double lives, how they separate public persona from private behavior, and what happens internally when the truth starts closing in. We look at the early-morning searches revealed in court and discuss what they suggest about planning, awareness, and emotional state. We also examine the defense's theory that Ana died suddenly and Brian responded in fear rather than violence. Shavaun explains what a real shock response looks like, how grief manifests, and why certain behaviors line up more with self-protection than panic. Then we broaden the view: the warning signs in troubled relationships, the risk spike when someone prepares to leave, the emotional danger of perceived betrayal, and what it means when financial motive intersects with escalating conflict. These are the patterns professionals see every day in cases that end in violence. Shavaun's perspective gives viewers the tools to understand not only this case, but the psychology behind deception itself — and why credibility is often the real battleground inside the courtroom. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalsheTrial #PsychologyExplained #TrueCrimeInsights #ShavaunScott #CrimeBehavior #CourtroomCoverage #AnaWalshe #ManipulationTactics #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this episode of Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to unpack the disturbing psychology and systemic collapse behind the escape of Morgan Geyser — the now-23-year-old woman who attempted a ritualistic Slender Man killing as a child, and who recently slipped out of a state-approved group home with a 42-year-old man after cutting off her GPS monitor. This wasn't a locked facility. This wasn't a secure psychiatric placement. This was a quiet residential street with families and kids — none of whom were told she was there. Tonight, we dig into the dangerous illusion of “stability” in cases like this. For years, Morgan lived in the tightly controlled structure of an institution. But structure can mask fragility. Compliance is not recovery. And what looked like stability to officials has now erupted into an interstate escape, a severed GPS bracelet, a fake name, and a bizarre “Google me” exchange with police. Shavaun walks us through the psychological landmines: • What her original violent delusion reveals about long-term risk • Why institutional calm can lull clinicians into false confidence • The overlooked red flags: dark material, troubling adult contacts • Why placing her in an unsecure group home was a catastrophic risk • What attachment to a much older man signals clinically • How quickly delusion-based distortions can return • The massive danger created when addresses are sealed from the public • Why relapse in psychosis can be invisible until it's explosive And then there's the system failure: When Morgan cut her GPS bracelet, the alert came in around 9:30 p.m. Police weren't notified until nearly 12 hours later. For victims like Payton Leutner, this is a nightmare come back to life. For the public, it's a warning about how dangerously optimistic the system can be when evaluating violent, delusion-based offenders. This episode pulls the curtain back on the psychology — and the failures — behind a case that never should have been allowed to unfold this way. #HiddenKillers #MorganGeyser #SlenderMan #TrueCrime #MentalHealth #Psychosis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #CrimeNews Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Tonight on Hidden Killers, we sit down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine one of the most psychologically alarming missing-child cases in recent memory: the disappearance of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard — and the unraveling mental state of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, whose behavior seems to be spiraling far past “odd” and into a realm of fractured reality. This is a case defined by contradictions, delusion-like narratives, and a system trapped in its own limitations. Ashlee has claimed her house is bugged, that strangers are monitoring her, that law enforcement is tracking her every move, and that a mystery couple from a zoo — whose names she can't provide — is caring for Melodee. Meanwhile, she's deleting accounts, swapping plates, dismantling her digital life, and creating what looks disturbingly like a symbolic stand-in for Melodee on a pillow inside the home. And through all of this, Melodee hasn't been heard from in nearly two months. Tonight, Shavaun breaks down the psychological red flags: • What paranoia and impaired reality-testing actually look like • Why her story shifts from day to day • What the “shrine” on the couch signals clinically • Whether the flight behaviors suggest panic, planning, or manic unraveling • Why calm, controlled behavior can mask severe internal instability • The danger to a child depending on a parent whose reality is fractured But the bigger story is the systemic failure: Why hasn't Ashlee been detained? Why no psychiatric hold? Why can't the system intervene when a child is missing and a parent is unraveling? Shavaun walks us through the brutal truth: unless someone meets the impossibly narrow legal standard of “imminent danger,” mental-health and child-welfare systems are often legally powerless — even when the red flags are blinking in neon. If you're following the Buzzard case, this is the conversation you need to hear. #HiddenKillers #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MissingChild #Psychology #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Tonight on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us unravel two cases that shouldn't be connected — but absolutely are. On one side: Ashlee Buzzard, a mother spiraling into paranoia, delusion, secrecy, and destabilization as her nine-year-old daughter, Melodee, remains missing. On the other: Morgan Geyser, the Slender Man attacker who escaped a state placement, cut her ankle monitor, crossed state lines with a 42-year-old man, and was found behind a truck stop. Two wildly different cases. One identical problem: a system incapable of responding to psychological danger until AFTER the damage is done. Shavaun takes us deep into the psychology behind both crises. In the Buzzard case, we look at fractured reality, shifting stories, conspiracy fears, digital erasure, symbolic “shrines,” and the psychological danger created when a child's safety depends entirely on a parent who may no longer be tethered to shared reality — yet shows just enough calm to avoid involuntary intervention. In the Geyser case, we dig into the illusion of “recovery,” the fragility of delusion-based offenders, hidden addresses, overlooked red flags, troubling adult relationships, and the near-disastrous consequences of placing someone with her history in an unsecured neighborhood with nothing but a GPS bracelet — a bracelet that failed the moment it mattered. Both cases ask the same chilling questions: • Why can't the system intervene before irreversible harm? • Why is “imminent danger” defined so narrowly it becomes meaningless? • How can someone be deeply unstable yet still appear compliant enough to avoid detection? • How many red flags does it take before a child or community is protected? This is a conversation about psychology, danger, and systemic blind spots — and why families, victims, and entire neighborhoods keep getting blindsided by crises everyone saw coming but nobody was legally allowed to stop. #HiddenKillers #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #MorganGeyser #SlenderMan #TrueCrime #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the shocking moment that shattered the illusion of Adelson family unity — Wendi Adelson's refusal to testify for her mother, Donna, in one of Florida's most explosive murder-for-hire trials. In a stunning pretrial twist, Donna's defense team tried to subpoena her daughter, Wendi, hoping her testimony might humanize Donna or counterbalance the prosecution's narrative. But Wendi's lawyers fought back, arguing that testifying could incriminate her — and the judge agreed. The subpoena was tossed, meaning Wendi will not be forced to take the stand. It's a moment that speaks volumes without a word being spoken. While Charlie Adelson, already convicted and serving life for his role in the 2014 murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, steps forward to testify for his mother, Wendi stays silent. In a case built on loyalty, control, and manipulation, this silence may say more than any testimony ever could. Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott break down what this fracture reveals about the psychology of the Adelson family — how fear, guilt, and self-preservation drive behavior when the walls close in. They analyze how jurors are likely to interpret the sibling contrast: one child taking the stand for loyalty, another staying quiet to save herself. Does Wendi's silence protect her, or does it make her look complicit? Then, defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis joins Tony to explore how this new dynamic could shift courtroom strategy. Could Donna's team now push harder to put her on the stand herself, hoping to fill the emotional vacuum left by Wendi's absence? And what will the state do with a family now publicly divided — a daughter refusing to help her mother, a son defending her from a prison cell? This isn't just a trial about murder. It's about the collapse of a dynasty built on influence and image, where loyalty has finally given way to self-preservation.

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we're unpacking one of the most haunting psychological stories to emerge from the Gilgo Beach murders — the steadfast denial of Asa Ellerup, estranged wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann. Even as prosecutors present a mountain of evidence — DNA matches, hair fibers from family members found on victims, burner phones, and a detailed murder planning document — Asa still calls her husband her “hero.” She describes visiting him in jail as feeling like “a first date.” She smiles when she hears his voice. She insists their home — where police say the murders were plotted — could never be a crime scene. In this gripping psychological breakdown, retired FBI Behavioral Analyst Robin Dreeke joins Tony Brueski to dissect how trauma, denial, and love can merge into something that looks like loyalty but is really self-preservation. Dreeke explains how 27 years of marriage built what he calls a “truth infrastructure” — a psychological foundation so powerful that admitting betrayal feels more dangerous than believing the lie. He unpacks the mechanics of trauma bonding, cognitive dissonance, and protective blindness, explaining how the human brain often rejects unbearable truth to preserve emotional stability. Dreeke also explores how financial stress, illness, and media exploitation may amplify Asa's denial — especially as she battles cancer, navigates public scrutiny, and faces criticism for participating in the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. Then, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony to analyze the most disturbing moments captured on camera — including Rex's recorded jail calls and Asa's telling body language. Why does she close her eyes when confronted with evidence? Why does she describe love as something that would “hurt him”? Scott reveals how guilt, dependency, and unresolved trauma often trap partners of predators in cycles of emotional paralysis. Together, Dreeke and Scott piece together a portrait not just of denial — but of the psychological collateral damage left behind when a family's reality is shattered by unimaginable truth.

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we're revisiting one of the most disturbing and debated questions of the year: Was Bryan Kohberger just a socially awkward PhD student obsessed with criminology—or a meticulous killer hiding in plain sight? In this full-length breakdown, Tony Brueski sits down with former felony prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis, and later, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, to unravel both sides of the psychological and legal battlefield surrounding the Idaho student murder case. From disappearing cell phone signals to Amazon receipts allegedly showing purchases of masks and knives months before the crime, the evidence paints a chilling picture of intent and foresight. Prosecutors say these details form a digital breadcrumb trail of premeditation—a methodical pattern that includes turning off his phone during the murders, changing his license plates afterward, and buying a new knife sharpener like it was just another household necessity. Faddis breaks down how prosecutors could use this mountain of circumstantial evidence to prove intent and pattern, while the defense may counter with claims of coincidence—or even neurodivergence, arguing that Kohberger's socially awkward behavior is being misinterpreted as malice. Could an autism spectrum defense help humanize him in front of a jury—or would it risk sounding like an excuse for cold, calculated planning? Then, Shavaun Scott joins Tony for the darker dive — exploring the unsettling parallels between Kohberger's alleged actions and cinematic killers like Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) and Norman Bates (Psycho). From his mirror selfie and sterile composure to online alter egos like “Papa Rodger” commenting about the murders in real time, they examine how narcissism, ego, and obsession with control may have blended into performance. Was Kohberger studying criminology to understand crime—or to perfect it? And if these clues were left on purpose, what was the endgame: to prove superiority, or to be remembered?

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we're going beyond the headlines to examine the psychological machinery behind one of the most explosive celebrity trials of the decade — Sean “Diddy” Combs and the disturbing allegations that have shattered his empire. In this powerful two-part special, Tony Brueski is joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down the alleged behavioral profile of Diddy — not from a place of gossip, but through a clinical lens. Scott explores whether Combs' reported actions align with narcissistic personality traits, psychopathic tendencies, and patterns of coercive control often seen in long-term cycles of abuse. From alleged emotional domination and financial control to threats, surveillance, and sexual coercion, Scott unpacks how power and pathology intertwine — and how high-profile abusers weaponize influence, fear, and fame to keep victims silent. It's a chilling look at how manipulation can masquerade as charisma, and how the psychology of celebrity can distort accountability on a global scale. Then, in the second half, Tony delivers a full breakdown of the most pivotal week of the Diddy federal trial (June 12–16, 2025) — a stretch of testimony and evidence that could decide whether the hip-hop mogul spends life in prison or walks free. Among the bombshell moments: Six firearms with defaced serial numbers found near alleged “freak-off” supplies. Homeland Security's discovery of AR-15 parts, drugs, and lubricants allegedly tied to a sex-trafficking operation. The emotional testimony of “Jane,” who confronted Diddy in court after describing years of abuse and coercion. Immunity witness Jonathan Perez, Diddy's former assistant, whose drug procurement testimony both strengthened and complicated the government's case. Kanye West's surreal courthouse appearance, adding a spectacle to an already volatile trial. And the controversial dismissal of Juror #6, a decision now under scrutiny for potential bias. Together, these two lenses — the psychological and the procedural — reveal the full picture of a man once untouchable, now facing the reckoning of his own creation.

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we turn our focus to one of the most bizarre and psychologically chilling trials unfolding in America: Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed prophet who's decided she's the best person to defend herself in court. Already convicted in Idaho for the murders of her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and the conspiracy to murder her husband's former wife, Tammy Daybell, Lori is now facing justice in Arizona for the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. But this time, there's no defense team to shield her — because Lori fired them. She's representing herself. In this special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott to unpack the chilling psychology behind Lori's decision, exploring how delusion, narcissism, and religious grandiosity collide in a courtroom setting. Lori's behavior — confident, defiant, and disturbingly serene — may seem erratic, but Scott explains how it fits a pattern of pathological self-belief common among cult leaders and high-control personalities. During her recent pretrial hearing, Lori insisted on moving forward with trial despite her own forensics expert not being ready, demanded to exclude incriminating statements from her deceased brother Alex Cox, and even tried to subpoena journalist Nate Eaton — the reporter who's covered her saga from day one. She also hinted at testifying in her own defense, setting the stage for one of the most surreal spectacles in recent legal history. But beneath the theatrics lies a darker psychology. Lori isn't just defending herself legally — she's defending her identity as a “divine messenger.” Scott breaks down how shared psychosis (folie à deux) between Lori and her husband Chad Daybell fueled a belief system that justified murder under the guise of prophecy. Together, they turned apocalypse fantasies into fatal decisions. As jury selection looms and Arizona prosecutors prepare to argue their case, Tony and Shavaun explore whether Lori's self-representation is a strategy, a symptom, or both — and how her religious delusions continue to warp her sense of accountability.

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most shocking and psychologically revealing cases of the year — the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, where allegations of manipulation, coercive control, and psychological abuse have redefined how power, fame, and fear intertwine. In this full-length special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott and retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke for a two-part deep dive into the disturbing behavioral patterns emerging from the trial — and the psychology of a man accused of wielding control like a weapon. Shavaun Scott breaks down ten key psychological tactics allegedly used by Combs against Cassie Ventura, as detailed in testimony and filings: covert manipulation, emotional isolation, threats, intimidation, extortion through explicit material, and the gradual dismantling of personal autonomy. She explains how high-profile abusers create invisible cages — systems of dependence and fear that trap victims even under the public eye. Then, Robin Dreeke analyzes the case from a behavioral intelligence perspective — mapping how powerful figures maintain a dual identity: adored in public, feared in private. From the alleged use of surveillance and financial control to the orchestration of silence among inner-circle members, Dreeke exposes how a “high-functioning predator” can operate unchecked for decades. The discussion also explores the psychology of complicity — how enablers and bystanders become part of the abuse cycle, whether through fear, loyalty, or career survival. Both experts highlight the chilling consistency between Combs' alleged conduct and established behavioral profiles of coercive narcissists and organized abusers. This is more than a celebrity scandal. It's a clinical case study in power addiction, psychological dominance, and the systemic failures that allow fame to mask abuse.

When the Epstein files go public, the biggest shock won't be a single name — it will be the realization of how many institutions failed, looked away, or quietly enabled a predator to operate at the highest levels of society. And once that truth lands, America is going to feel something profound: institutional betrayal. In this riveting one-hour discussion, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dig into the psychology of what happens when the public discovers that the systems they trusted were protecting someone like Jeffrey Epstein. Governments. Universities. Financial institutions. Social circles. Even media figures. When the public sees how interconnected it all was, trust fractures — sometimes permanently. Shavaun explains why institutional betrayal wounds deeper than individual harm, why people struggle to process wrongdoing by powerful figures, and why this release may cause a destabilizing but necessary shift in how Americans view power, authority, and accountability. We explore the psychological whiplash of discovering that “the system worked” was a myth. Why people defend public figures out of identity rather than fact. And why denial becomes a survival mechanism when the truth feels too big to accept. Most importantly, we examine what healing could look like — how truth, even painful truth, can be the beginning of a more honest national conversation about abuse, complicity, and institutional decay. This interview isn't about politics. It's about psychology. And it's about what happens when a country finally sees what was in the dark. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #InstitutionalBetrayal #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PowerAndAbuse #Psychology #NationalTrauma #MentalHealth Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The public sees headlines. Survivors feel earthquakes. As the full Epstein files move toward release, America is fixated on the political implications. But for the survivors of Epstein and his network, this is something else entirely — a psychological rupture, a reopening of wounds, a wave of validation mingled with dread. And that emotional reality often gets lost in the noise. In this gripping conversation, Tony Brueski is joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down what this moment truly means for survivors, both publicly known and privately suffering. Shavaun explains why major truth-reveals can reactivate trauma stored deep in the body. Why survivors can experience physical symptoms, flashbacks, emotional volatility, or sudden dissociation when their stories re-enter public consciousness. And why validation — even when desperately needed — is not always simple, gentle, or healing in the moment. We also explore the psychological impact on families of survivors, who have carried their own secondary trauma for years. Many will watch their loved ones relive the past. Others will face the public glare, the online chaos, and the uncertainty that comes with knowing what the files might reveal. And beyond survivors, Shavaun addresses something the public rarely considers: how this national moment may trigger people who were never directly connected to Epstein at all — anyone with a personal history of abuse, betrayal, or institutional failure. This episode is a raw, compassionate, deeply informed look at the human cost behind the headlines. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #ShavaunScott #Trauma #SurvivorVoices #TonyBrueski #PsychologicalImpact #TruthAndHealing #MentalHealthMatters #TrueCrimePodcast Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The Epstein files are about to drop — not rumors, not whispers, not selectively leaked scraps — the full trove of documents America has spent years demanding. And while the legal system prepares for its moment, the rest of the country is bracing for something far deeper: the psychological shockwave that comes when long-buried truth finally hits daylight. In this powerful hour-long conversation, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine the emotional and psychological fallout that is about to ripple through millions of people. From survivors who will relive their trauma in real time, to families who have carried the weight of these stories for decades, to a public that is finally about to see how deeply Epstein's influence reached — nothing about this moment is simple. Shavaun breaks down why this case carries such heavy emotional gravity, why institutional betrayal hits harder than individual wrongdoing, and how the human brain reacts when long-hidden truths collide with years of speculation, denial, conspiracy, and political posturing. We explore the trauma responses that may surface for survivors. The panic, defensiveness, and rationalization likely to erupt from those whose names appear in the documents. The wave of cognitive dissonance the public will feel when familiar faces and trusted institutions are forced into the spotlight. And the psychological mechanisms — shame, fear, denial — that will shape the national conversation in the days and weeks after release. This isn't just a news event. This is a national psychological event. And Shavaun Scott helps us understand exactly what that means. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #Psychology #TraumaRecovery #EpsteinCase #InstitutionalBetrayal #MentalHealth Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When the Epstein files go public, the biggest shock won't be a single name — it will be the realization of how many institutions failed, looked away, or quietly enabled a predator to operate at the highest levels of society. And once that truth lands, America is going to feel something profound: institutional betrayal. In this riveting one-hour discussion, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dig into the psychology of what happens when the public discovers that the systems they trusted were protecting someone like Jeffrey Epstein. Governments. Universities. Financial institutions. Social circles. Even media figures. When the public sees how interconnected it all was, trust fractures — sometimes permanently. Shavaun explains why institutional betrayal wounds deeper than individual harm, why people struggle to process wrongdoing by powerful figures, and why this release may cause a destabilizing but necessary shift in how Americans view power, authority, and accountability. We explore the psychological whiplash of discovering that “the system worked” was a myth. Why people defend public figures out of identity rather than fact. And why denial becomes a survival mechanism when the truth feels too big to accept. Most importantly, we examine what healing could look like — how truth, even painful truth, can be the beginning of a more honest national conversation about abuse, complicity, and institutional decay. This interview isn't about politics. It's about psychology. And it's about what happens when a country finally sees what was in the dark. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #InstitutionalBetrayal #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PowerAndAbuse #Psychology #NationalTrauma #MentalHealth Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this explosive Hidden Killers feature, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the most dangerous phrase in American child-protection law: “imminent danger.” It's the loophole that leaves families powerless, law enforcement stalled, and children unprotected until tragedy strikes. The Melodee Buzzard case exposes how a slow-moving legal standard allowed a crisis to become a disappearance — even as every red flag was documented in real time. Shavaun reveals how mental-health systems confuse autonomy with safety, how judges hesitate to intervene without physical harm, and how this outdated framework turns compassion into catastrophe. Tony drives the hard questions: Why didn't anyone step in when relatives begged for help? Why was a missing school record not enough? Why did it take a felony charge to get attention? Together they offer real, actionable solutions — from mobile crisis co-response units to pattern-based legal triggers — that balance civil rights with child safety. This isn't just commentary; it's a call for reform. Because if we keep waiting for proof of danger, we'll keep finding it too late. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MentalHealthReform #ChildWelfare #SystemicFailure #JusticeForMelodee Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

This is the story that will make you furious — because every step of it was predictable. In this Hidden Killers deep dive, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examine the disturbing mental unraveling that led to the disappearance of Melodee Buzzard. From the first red flags — school absence, social isolation, and erratic behavior — to the alarming road trip with wigs, fake plates, and a child who never returned, every sign pointed toward a crisis in plain sight. Yet, the law did nothing. The threshold for “imminent danger” demanded proof of harm — even as danger screamed from every corner. Shavaun explains how a person in psychological free-fall can appear “functional” enough to evade intervention, and why families who report warning signs are so often dismissed as overreacting. The false-imprisonment charge that followed weeks later — multiple locks, a box cutter, and an accusation of “violence, menace, fraud, and deceit” — reads like a postscript to the same nightmare. Tony and Shavaun break down not just what went wrong, but how to fix it — legally, clinically, and emotionally — so another family doesn't have to live this horror in real time. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrimePodcast #ChildProtection #MentalHealthCrisis #FamilyFailure #BrokenSystem Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this harrowing Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to unpack one of the most haunting modern tragedies — the disappearance of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard and the slow, visible mental collapse of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard. Every warning was there: relatives cut off, a child missing from school rolls, no homeschool paperwork, a home in disarray. Then came the wigs, a license-plate swap, a multi-state trip — and a mother returning without her daughter. Weeks later, an alleged false-imprisonment incident involving multiple locks and a box cutter confirmed the nightmare. Through a clinical and human lens, Shavaun exposes how “the system worked exactly as designed — and that's the problem.” Families are handcuffed by “imminent danger” laws that demand proof before help, while crises spiral into tragedy. Tony and Shavaun break down how to recognize delusion, how to act before it's too late, and how the laws meant to protect privacy are now costing lives. This is a deep, emotional exploration of failure — and what must change before another Melodee disappears. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #ChildSafety #MentalHealthCrisis #BrokenSystem #JusticeForMelodee Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this explosive Hidden Killers feature, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the most dangerous phrase in American child-protection law: “imminent danger.” It's the loophole that leaves families powerless, law enforcement stalled, and children unprotected until tragedy strikes. The Melodee Buzzard case exposes how a slow-moving legal standard allowed a crisis to become a disappearance — even as every red flag was documented in real time. Shavaun reveals how mental-health systems confuse autonomy with safety, how judges hesitate to intervene without physical harm, and how this outdated framework turns compassion into catastrophe. Tony drives the hard questions: Why didn't anyone step in when relatives begged for help? Why was a missing school record not enough? Why did it take a felony charge to get attention? Together they offer real, actionable solutions — from mobile crisis co-response units to pattern-based legal triggers — that balance civil rights with child safety. This isn't just commentary; it's a call for reform. Because if we keep waiting for proof of danger, we'll keep finding it too late. #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MentalHealthReform #ChildWelfare #SystemicFailure #JusticeForMelodee Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

What happens when two teenage survivors watch the court set their attacker free? In the case of Jesse Mack Butler, charged with eleven felonies — including rape, strangulation, and assault — the answer is unthinkable: one year of supervision, zero prison time, and a wiped record. In this powerful interview, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott break down the psychology of protection — from parental denial to systemic apathy. They explore how communities normalize violence, how judges mistake privilege for potential, and how survivors carry the trauma of a system that refused to protect them. This isn't about one case — it's about what happens when justice becomes an accomplice. #HiddenKillersPodcast #JesseButlerCase #JusticeFailed #PsychologicalAnalysis #ShavaunScott #SurvivorVoices #TraumaInformed #TrueCrimeCommentary #HiddenKillersLive #SystemicInjustice Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Two 16-year-old girls were attacked. One was choked unconscious. One nearly died. The evidence was undeniable — partial phone video, medical proof, and multiple felony charges. Yet the court said: “He deserves another chance.” Why? Because he was a “good kid.” Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to explore the disturbing cultural conditioning that keeps excusing violent young men — and the devastating psychological toll that leniency takes on survivors. They dive deep into the psychology of denial, family image-protection, and the small-town empathy that shields offenders instead of victims. This isn't a courtroom story — it's a cultural mirror. #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #JesseButler #GoodKidNarrative #PsychologyOfDenial #TraumaRecovery #JusticeSystem #ShavaunScott #VictimAdvocacy #PatriarchalPrivilege Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

 How does someone charged with eleven felonies — including rape and strangulation — walk away with a single year of supervision? In Stillwater, Oklahoma, 17-year-old Jesse Mack Butler attacked two teenage girls so brutally one nearly died. Police had video evidence. Doctors confirmed near-fatal injuries. Yet the court called it “rehabilitation.” In this episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott unpack the psychology of protection — the denial, privilege, and misplaced empathy that let predators slip through the cracks. From family complicity to small-town bias, this is a case study in how justice fails survivors — and what it says about our collective moral blindness. Watch the full discussion and join the conversation about what true accountability should look like. #JesseButler #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast #JusticeForSurvivors #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimeDiscussion #PredatorPsychology #RapeCulture #TraumaInformedJustice #SystemicFailure Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When Ajike Owens was killed through a closed door, her four children lost their mother — and a nation faced the consequences of unchecked paranoia. In this exclusive episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to dissect the mental chain reaction behind that fatal moment. Scott explores how chronic resentment, fear scripting, and entitlement converge in what she calls “justified aggression”—the mind's way of excusing harm under the guise of self-protection. She breaks down how fear, when reinforced over years, becomes not a response but an identity. The discussion turns toward healing: what happens to children who witness or lose parents to violence, what recovery actually looks like, and how society can stop mistaking grievance for danger.  This is not just analysis — it's a human reckoning with how far distorted thinking can go when no one intervenes. #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillersPodcast #ThePerfectNeighbor #AjikeOwens #SusanLorincz #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeToday #PsychologyOfFear #TraumaRecovery #FearVsAccountability Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to unpack the warped psychology behind The Perfect Neighbor case — where “fear” became justification for a killing. For two years, Susan Lorincz saw danger in ordinary life: neighborhood kids, laughter, noise. That chronic hyper-vigilance — mixed with grievance and entitlement — built a narrative that only she believed. Scott explores how paranoia and cognitive distortion feed on isolation, turning imagined threat into moral crusade. From micro-aggressions to the myth of the “good citizen,” this interview asks what happens when anxiety weaponizes itself and empathy disappears. Scott also offers trauma-informed insights for the secondary victims — Ajike Owens' children — and explains how communities can recognize early warning signs before another tragedy repeats. #ThePerfectNeighbor #ShavaunScott #AjikeOwens #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #FearVsReality #TraumaPsychology #BehavioralHealth #StandYourGround Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

A mother is dead. A neighbor claims fear. But what really drove Susan Lorincz to pull the trigger through a closed door?  In this exclusive conversation, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski. Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to dissect the psychology behind The Perfect Neighbor case — where paranoia, entitlement, and grievance collided in one deadly moment. Scott unpacks the behavioral descent that transforms everyday irritation into lethal certainty. Was Lorincz truly afraid, or was “fear” the mask for long-nurtured anger? From chronic irritability and confirmation bias to the self-righteous delusion of being “under siege,” Scott breaks down the cognitive distortions that rewrite reality until violence feels justified. Together, they examine how “stand-your-ground” culture, racialized fear, and emotional dysregulation converge — and what this case reveals about the American obsession with safety at all costs. This isn't just a crime story; it's a psychological autopsy of modern paranoia. #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers #ThePerfectNeighbor #AjikeOwens #SusanLorincz #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfFear #StandYourGround #BehavioralAnalysis Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When Ajike Owens was killed through a closed door, her four children lost their mother — and a nation faced the consequences of unchecked paranoia. In this exclusive episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels to dissect the mental chain reaction behind that fatal moment. Scott explores how chronic resentment, fear scripting, and entitlement converge in what she calls “justified aggression”—the mind's way of excusing harm under the guise of self-protection. She breaks down how fear, when reinforced over years, becomes not a response but an identity. The discussion turns toward healing: what happens to children who witness or lose parents to violence, what recovery actually looks like, and how society can stop mistaking grievance for danger.  This is not just analysis — it's a human reckoning with how far distorted thinking can go when no one intervenes. #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillersPodcast #ThePerfectNeighbor #AjikeOwens #SusanLorincz #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeToday #PsychologyOfFear #TraumaRecovery #FearVsAccountability Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Two crimes. Two young lives. Two moments of sheer panic that turned fatal. A musician whose Tesla held the body of a missing 15-year-old. A college cheerleader who hid her newborn in a closet, then went out for fast food. In this extended Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the chilling psychology behind both the D4vd / Celeste Rivas Hernandez and Laken Snelling cases — revealing how fear, shame, and an underdeveloped brain can twist reality into delusion. Why do young people believe they can hide what can't be hidden? What happens in the mind when panic flips the switch from reason to denial? And what does neuroscience tell us about the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that's supposed to see the bigger picture — simply not being ready yet? This isn't about monsters. It's about immaturity, fear, and the illusion of control. It's about how a single impulsive act — followed by a catastrophic cover-up — can change everything. Raw, honest, and psychologically deep, this episode shows that the scariest thing about these crimes isn't the violence. It's how human the decisions behind them really are. #HiddenKillers #D4vd #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfCrime #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #ImpulseControl #BrainDevelopment #FearAndDenial Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When 21-year-old University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling gave birth alone in her apartment, what happened next stunned investigators. She wrapped her newborn in a towel, placed the body in a trash bag inside her closet — and then, according to court documents, ordered McDonald's through an app and tried to go about her day. This episode digs into that impossible contradiction: how someone can experience the most traumatic moment of their life and immediately act as though nothing happened. Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott explore the psychological mechanics of shock, shame, and denial — and why the young brain, overwhelmed by fear and isolation, can make devastating choices it can't comprehend. Is this a story of pure evil? Or of panic, immaturity, and a desperate attempt to keep life “normal” when everything has already collapsed? We'll look at how identity, reputation, and fear of judgment can override rational thought, and why concealment often feels like the only option to a terrified young adult. This isn't a story about excuses — it's about understanding how fear rewires the human mind. #HiddenKillers #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfDenial #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #UniversityOfKentucky #ImpulseControl #CrimeAndPsychology #HiddenBirth Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When police found the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the musician known as D4vd, it didn't just expose a horrifying crime scene — it exposed a psychological collapse. A moment where fear, immaturity, and denial replaced logic. In this episode, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine the psychology of impulsive concealment — why young people in crisis make catastrophic, irrational choices that they somehow believe will “fix” the problem. Why would anyone think a body in a frunk wouldn't be found? Why do young adults underestimate consequences, even when the evidence is literally sitting in plain sight? And what does this say about a generation raised on instant validation and social-media performance? This isn't a story about criminal genius. It's about panic. About the under-developed prefrontal cortex that governs judgment and foresight — and how, when terror strikes, it simply shuts down. Together, Tony and Shavaun unpack what neuroscience, fear, and shame can do to the human mind when reality feels too big to face. If you've ever wondered why some people make the worst decisions imaginable under pressure, this conversation will change how you think about crime, youth, and consequence. #HiddenKillers #D4vd #CelesteRivasHernandez #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfCrime #ImpulsiveCrimes #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #BrainDevelopment #CrimeAndPsychology Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Two crimes. Two young lives. Two moments of sheer panic that turned fatal. A musician whose Tesla held the body of a missing 15-year-old. A college cheerleader who hid her newborn in a closet, then went out for fast food. In this extended Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the chilling psychology behind both the D4vd / Celeste Rivas Hernandez and Laken Snelling cases — revealing how fear, shame, and an underdeveloped brain can twist reality into delusion. Why do young people believe they can hide what can't be hidden? What happens in the mind when panic flips the switch from reason to denial? And what does neuroscience tell us about the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that's supposed to see the bigger picture — simply not being ready yet? This isn't about monsters. It's about immaturity, fear, and the illusion of control. It's about how a single impulsive act — followed by a catastrophic cover-up — can change everything. Raw, honest, and psychologically deep, this episode shows that the scariest thing about these crimes isn't the violence. It's how human the decisions behind them really are. #HiddenKillers #D4vd #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfCrime #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #ImpulseControl #BrainDevelopment #FearAndDenial Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

It wasn't just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade. In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey's final courtroom statements. Together, we examine: How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory Why Harvey's grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth How Donna's use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth.

Donna Adelson didn't beg for mercy at sentencing—she grabbed the mic and tried to rewrite history. In this raw, emotionally fractured courtroom speech, Donna portrayed herself not as a conspirator—but as a victim. “There are two crimes,” she declared. “The second is taking my life.” Her voice cracked, her story crumbled, and what we witnessed was more than denial—it was psychological collapse playing out live. In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski to dissect: What narcissistic collapse really looks and sounds like when the façade finally breaks Why Donna's repeated references to her grandchildren, oaths on her life, and attacks on the system reveal more about control than conscience How emotional manipulation works in sentencing statements—and why selective grief is a red flag The psychological toll of living inside a family system built on secrecy, power, and self-preservation This isn't just courtroom drama. It's behavioral dissection.

What happens when a man loses not just his wife—but the version of reality he's built for over 50 years? In this gripping episode, we unpack the emotional, erratic, and deeply revealing courtroom statement of Harvey Adelson, the husband of convicted murderer Donna Adelson. At her sentencing, Harvey took the stand and delivered a passionate defense of his wife—denying all wrongdoing, blaming the justice system, accusing witnesses of lying, and even calling Dan Markel's grieving parents dishonest. But here's the twist: Harvey's grief is real. So is his collapse. And so is his refusal to acknowledge the truth. With psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, we explore: The psychology of enmeshment and why Harvey can't separate Donna's guilt from his own identity Why family loyalty in narcissistic systems becomes more important than the truth How denial, image preservation, and emotional breakdown all show up in real time What it means when someone experiences their spouse's conviction as their own personal execution This is not just a reaction. It's a psychological autopsy of a collapsing dynasty.

It wasn't just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade. In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey's final courtroom statements. Together, we examine: How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory Why Harvey's grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth How Donna's use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth.